MOVILLE WON their first Donegal senior ladies title in seven years thanks to a ten-point win over Glenfin in an exciting final at Ture this morning.
Moville 5-15 Glenfin 4-8
With an eight-point lead at half-time, Jimmy Hegarty’s team maintained the advantage in spite of an inevitable Glenfin comeback in the second half.
Moville were super throughout with Sarah Jane McDonald, just back from a summer in Boston, scoring 1-6, the industrious Nicole Gordon getting two goals, the ever-reliable Niamh Hegarty hit 1-3 and Niamh McLaughlin was in mesmerising form at times.
They were on their way when McDonald netted the Inishowen side’s first goal and they hit 2-3 in the final ten minutes of the first half.
[adrotate group=”37″]Near the end of the first half, Gordon finished with a crisp low shot into the bottom corner of Harkin’s net after the rampaging Hegarty saw her drive crash off the upright.
Hegarty netted from a penalty early in the second half and Gordon tucked in her second and Moville’s fourth before the unfortunate Anna Marie McGlynn put through her own goal late on.
Glenfin were hit by the sin-binning of Karen Guthrie midway through the second period and while Guthrie, Katy Herron and Yvonne McMonagle did net goals, the margin was too wide by that stage.
[adrotate group=”38″]Niamh McLaughlin and Niamh Hegarty got Moville off and running, but Glenfin’s early jitters were lifted when they broke for a goal. A loose pass by the otherwise excellent Ciara Hegarty – who, at full-back, curtailed the advances of Yvonne McMonagle – was picked up by Herron.
A powerful Herron run ended with a lofted pass inside for McGrath, who lobbed over Aoife McColgan to the net.
Guthrie added a free, but Glenfin would add only two further points – from Guthrie and Herron – in the opening half as Moville took command with a late flurry before half-time.
[adrotate group=”46″]They took the lead with 28 minutes on the clock. Substitute Tara Hegarty, Niamh Hegarty and Gordon were all involved in the move before the ball was transferred to McDonald.
From close range, McDonald determinedly hammered high into the Glenfin net.
Gordon, Marie Kelly and Hegarty added points before Gordon’s goal put eight between them at the break, Moville 2-8 to 1-3 in front.
There was a little confusion at the interval with a free by Hegarty, which had appeared to go over and had initially been put on the scoreboard, being marked as a wide by the referee.
[adrotate group=”70″]Just after the re-start Caraigh McGuinness was fouled and Hegarty drilled the penalty beyond Faith Harkin, the Glenfin ‘keeper.
Glenfin were being held at bay by Moville, but the An Gaeltacht Lár team never really got into their high gears.
Guthrie batted home from a high ball in by Herron with Gráinne Houston and Guthrie adding points. Guthrie might have had another goal when she momentarily got in behind Geraldine Harkin, but spun a shot inches over the crossbar.
[adrotate group=”53″]Gordon made no mistake when presented with a chance for her second goal and when the excellent Niamh McLaughlin fisted forward, McGlynn inadvertently steered into the Glenfin net.
McMonagle finally got a chance of a goal and took it, but by then Moville were on their way to being crowned champions and they head into Ulster purring with Antrim side St Paul’s their first assignment.
Moville: Aoife McColgan; Sarah Faulkner, Ciara Hegarty, Niamh Cavanagh; Realtain McElhinney, Maria Doherty, Shannon McDonald; Geraldine Harkin, Niamh McLaughlin (0-2); Sarah Jane McDonald (1-6), Niamh Hegarty (1-3, 1-0pen, 1f), Nicole Gordon (2-1); Marie Kelly (0-2, 1f), Kathy McLaughlin, Caraigh McGuinness (0-1). Subs: Tara Hegarty for Shannon McDonald (24), Aisleen McGuinness for C.McGuinness (45), Aoife McLaughlin for Kelly (45), Lynne McGuinness for K.McLaughlin (60).
Glenfin: Faith Harkin; Diane McGlynn, Sinead McGinty, Jessica Martin; Mary Martin, Gemma Glackin, Anna Marie McGlynn (1-0, og); Karen Guthrie (1-4, 1f), Katy Herron (1-2); Grainne Houston (0-1), Colleen McGrath (1-0), Katy Ward; Karen Ward, Yvonne McMonagle (1-1, 1f), Aine Ward. Subs: Maggie Farrelly for A.Ward (47), Roisin Moy for Glackin (55).
Referee: Siobhan Coyle (Gaeil Fhánada).
Tags: